Coventry
Rugby Club today announced a £100,000 sponsorship with city car
giants Peugeot.

The two-year deal is one of the largest in the Allied Dunbar
Premiership Two division and includes some money from central
government under the Sportsmatch scheme.

Peugeot, who have backed the club for the whole of the 1990s,
looked on the brink of pulling out sponsorship until the present board
rescued the club. But Rod Philpot, of the company, said the club was
now moving in the right direction.

He told a press conference today:

"We are in the business of being side by side with
successful companies. Coventry have proved in recent years that they
can come out of adversity and keep the balance sheet straight.

"Had the club being heading in a different direction I can
promise you things would have been different.

"We have agreed a two year deal because a 12-month
arrangement may have led to doubt. There is no doubt on our behalf
at all – we support them on the pitch and off it."

Five thousands pounds of the deal has been match by the government
and will be channelled towards youth rugby. Councillor Dave Edwards, a
keen supporter of the club, also revealed a new scheme to allow first
team players into secondary schools to encourage youngsters to take up
the sport.

Club chairman Keith Fairbrother said that all senior players were
taking coaching exams to allow them to train local teachers.

He added:

"We are very pleased that Peugeot have shown this amount of
confidence in us. The sponsorship from Peugeot will substantially
increase our investment in youth rugby and in this city and the
county.

"A lot of stars who started in Coventry have slipped through
our fingers but we want to make sure that we foster talent and see
it come through here at this club."